Christopher Bey, a 50-year-old resident of Highland Park, Michigan, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. This decision comes after Bey's guilty plea to several charges, including Interference with Commerce by Robbery, Use of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. These charges are linked to incidents of armed robbery, shooting, and attempted armed robbery in the City of Pontiac.
Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced the sentence. She was joined by Special Agent in Charge James Dier of the ATF’s Detroit Division and Sheriff Michael Bouchard of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. "Removing violent offenders from our community is one of the office’s top priorities," Beck stated. She emphasized the focus on prosecuting individuals who continually threaten citizen safety.
James Dier of the ATF remarked on the severity of Bey's actions, stating, “This 20-year sentence is RIGHTEOUS. Mr. Bey is a sociopathic serial shooter who has consistently shown an inability to follow societal rules.” He highlighted the effort of the ATF and partner agencies in ensuring such offenders are held accountable.
Bey's criminal activities included robbing a Boost Mobile store on February 4, 2023, where he shot an employee despite their compliance. The employee suffered serious injuries and spent about a month in the hospital. Bey attempted another robbery on March 24, 2023, at a Dollar General Store, which he abandoned after a confrontation with a customer.
Furthermore, Bey faced charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement linked him to illegal firearms through his social media activity.
Bey was arrested on July 26, 2023, by the Pontiac Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF), which includes the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Customs Border Protection, and the Detroit Police Department. The task force focuses on firearms-related crimes within the region.
The case was prosecuted by the Violent & Organized Crime Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office.
